nit schedule

By MARK LONG – 1 hour ago
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — If Florida and Ohio State meet again this season, it will be in the NIT title game. The Gators and Buckeyes, finalists in last year’s national championship game, missed getting back into the NCAA tournament Sunday.
It marked the first time the two finalists from the previous year have not made the tournament since 1980 when Michigan State and Indiana State did not qualify. Magic Johnson led Michigan State to 75-64 victory over Larry Bird and Indiana State in the 1979 title game, then both stars turned pro.
“It shows you about how much things change,” Buckeyes coach Thad Matta said.
Two-time defending national champion Florida (21-11) lost eight of its final 11 games, including the last four, and was clearly out of the NCAA tournament picture before the brackets were announced.
The Gators had their streak of consecutive NCAA tournament berths snapped at nine, and became the first defending champ to miss the tournament since 1989 when Kansas was ineligible because of probation.
Ohio State (19-13) had a much better shot, having snapped a four-game losing streak with wins against Purdue and Michigan State to close out the regular season. But the Buckeyes lost their first game in the Big Ten tournament, falling 67-60 to the Spartans.

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